““Living in Freedom:Living in Freedom:Our Passion, His Purpose”Our Passion, His Purpose”

Christ Connect Church (24-Nov-2013)Christ Connect Church (24-Nov-2013)

“Saviour, worthy of honour and gloryWorthy of all our praise, You overcameJesus, awesome in power foreverAwesome and great is Your name, You overcame”

“We will overcome by the blood of the LambAnd the word of our testimony, everyone overcome”

““Overcome” Overcome” by Jeremy Campby Jeremy Camp

Our ProclamationOur Proclamation

Forever Barangay Ginebra!Forever Barangay Ginebra!

““If you don’t wanna get hurt, just play chess!”If you don’t wanna get hurt, just play chess!”

Forever Barangay Ginebra!Forever Barangay Ginebra!

““I thought our imported player is strong and good. As it were, he I thought our imported player is strong and good. As it were, he has a strong appetite and he’s really good in speaking english!”has a strong appetite and he’s really good in speaking english!”

Forever Barangay Ginebra!Forever Barangay Ginebra!

““We’ll win if we work together. If you’re a ball-hog We’ll win if we work together. If you’re a ball-hog (or a crocodile), you belong at Manila Zoo!”(or a crocodile), you belong at Manila Zoo!”

Forever Barangay Ginebra!Forever Barangay Ginebra!

““We worked hard for this! This is not a dream or a We worked hard for this! This is not a dream or a lucky fluke!”lucky fluke!”

Nehemiah – “Yahweh Comforts”Nehemiah – “Yahweh Comforts”1.1. Background – Background – he was a Jew living in Persia (at he was a Jew living in Persia (at

the citadel of Shushan) and was a cupbearer to the citadel of Shushan) and was a cupbearer to the Persian King (about 446 BC)the Persian King (about 446 BC)

2.2. He mourns for his people He mourns for his people – after hearing that – after hearing that the Jews in Jerusalem were living distressed the Jews in Jerusalem were living distressed and insecure (with no city walls) and insecure (with no city walls)

3.3. Most of the Jews are still in exile Most of the Jews are still in exile – living like – living like Nehemiah in the cities of the Persian empireNehemiah in the cities of the Persian empire

4.4. A few of the Jews have returned – A few of the Jews have returned – to live in to live in Jerusalem, a rebuilding the city and the Jerusalem, a rebuilding the city and the Temple; their work is still unfinished (the walls Temple; their work is still unfinished (the walls lay broken for about 120 years) lay broken for about 120 years)

The IntersectionThe Intersection1.1. ““Our Our destinydestiny is where our passion and God’s is where our passion and God’s

purposes purposes intersectintersect” ”

Man’s passion – Man’s passion – Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and uplift and comfort the Jews Jerusalem and uplift and comfort the Jews

God’s purposes God’s purposes – to bring spiritual revival and a – to bring spiritual revival and a renewed hope and faith to His peoplerenewed hope and faith to His people

Q. “Are my passions aligned to God’s purposes?” Q. “Are my passions aligned to God’s purposes?”

The IntersectionThe IntersectionNehemiah 1:4 Nehemiah 1:4 So it was when I heard these words, that So it was when I heard these words, that I sat I sat

downdown and and weptwept, and , and mournedmourned for many days; I for many days; I was was fastingfasting and and prayingpraying before the God of before the God of heavenheaven

““Seek God and find out if your passions have His Seek God and find out if your passions have His approval and blessings” approval and blessings”

A New IdentityA New Identity2. “When our passions and God’s purposes 2. “When our passions and God’s purposes intersect, He gives us intersect, He gives us a new identitya new identity””

Nehemiah 2:1-9 Nehemiah 2:1-9 The Persian King gave the Nehemiah:The Persian King gave the Nehemiah:• Approval to go back and rebuild Jerusalem (Approval to go back and rebuild Jerusalem (v. 5v. 5). ). • Instructions to the other governors to provide Instructions to the other governors to provide for building materials to Nehemiah (for building materials to Nehemiah (v. 8v. 8))• A group of the king’s captains and horsemen to A group of the king’s captains and horsemen to protect him (protect him (v. 9v. 9))• The appointment as The appointment as governorgovernor of the Jews ( of the Jews (5:145:14) )

A New IdentityA New IdentityNehemiah 2:4Nehemiah 2:4Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I So I prayedprayed to the God of heaven. to the God of heaven.

““Our new identity is marked by profound prayer” Our new identity is marked by profound prayer”

James 5:16bJames 5:16bThe The effective, fervent prayereffective, fervent prayer of a righteous man of a righteous man avails muchavails much

Be Prepared to Fight!Be Prepared to Fight!3. “3. “Watch outWatch out and and fight againstfight against spiritual spiritual terrorists who would try to stop us” terrorists who would try to stop us”

Nehemiah 2:10, 19Nehemiah 2:10, 19Nehemiah’s powerful enemies: Nehemiah’s powerful enemies: • Sanballat the Horonite (gov. of Samaria) Sanballat the Horonite (gov. of Samaria) • Tobiah the Ammonite (junior official to Tobiah the Ammonite (junior official to Sanballat)Sanballat)• Geshem the Arab (possible gov. of Arabia) Geshem the Arab (possible gov. of Arabia)

““Every work of God will be opposed by the Every work of God will be opposed by the enemy. It’s not a question of IF but WHEN” enemy. It’s not a question of IF but WHEN”

Be Prepared to Fight!Be Prepared to Fight!Revelation 12:11Revelation 12:11And they (the Church) And they (the Church) overcameovercame him (the devil) him (the devil) by by the blood of the Lambthe blood of the Lamb and and the word of their the word of their testimonytestimony, and they did not love their lives to the , and they did not love their lives to the death. death.

““The enemy will fight to silence the church and The enemy will fight to silence the church and our testimony about Jesus and His Word. But we our testimony about Jesus and His Word. But we shall overcome!” shall overcome!”

Identity ProtectionIdentity Protection4. “Our new identity in Christ 4. “Our new identity in Christ protects usprotects us and and helps us fulfill God’s purposes” helps us fulfill God’s purposes”

Nehemiah 6:1-9Nehemiah 6:1-9Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem tried 5x to get Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem tried 5x to get Nehemiah to go out of Jerusalem to meet them at Nehemiah to go out of Jerusalem to meet them at the plains of Ono (25 miles away). the plains of Ono (25 miles away).

Verse 3Verse 3““I am doing a great workI am doing a great work, so that I cannot come , so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”and go down to you?”

Identity ProtectionIdentity ProtectionNehemiah 6:10Nehemiah 6:10Afterward I came to the house of Afterward I came to the house of ShemaiahShemaiah the the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who waswas a a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together together in the house of Godin the house of God, within , within the templethe temple, , and and let us close the doors of the templelet us close the doors of the temple, for they , for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will they will come to kill youcome to kill you.”.”

Identity ProtectionIdentity ProtectionNehemiah 6:11Nehemiah 6:11And I said, “And I said, “Should such a man Should such a man as I flee? as I flee? And who And who is there such as I is there such as I who would go into the temple to who would go into the temple to save his life? save his life? I will not go inI will not go in!”!”

Declaration: “Don’t you know who I am?” Declaration: “Don’t you know who I am?”

““When we remember who we are in Christ, we When we remember who we are in Christ, we can say to the enemy ‘away with you!’” can say to the enemy ‘away with you!’”

Identity ProtectionIdentity Protection4. “Our new identity in Christ protects us and 4. “Our new identity in Christ protects us and helps us helps us fulfill God’s purposesfulfill God’s purposes” ”

Nehemiah 6:15Nehemiah 6:15So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in Elul, in fifty-two daysfifty-two days. .

Walls of Jerusalem – 1.5 miles long & 8 feet deep Walls of Jerusalem – 1.5 miles long & 8 feet deep with 12 huge wooden gates!with 12 huge wooden gates!

Identity ProtectionIdentity Protection

““When we use our God-given authority and act When we use our God-given authority and act in Spirit-led unity, the miraculous will happen!” in Spirit-led unity, the miraculous will happen!”

A Call to ActionA Call to Action““What are my passions? What is my calling?” What are my passions? What is my calling?”

““Seek God and ask Him if my passions are Seek God and ask Him if my passions are aligned to His purposes and will” aligned to His purposes and will”

““Be bold and be ready to strike out in fight” Be bold and be ready to strike out in fight”

““Prepare for a fight! My new identity in Christ Prepare for a fight! My new identity in Christ will help me overcome and succeed” will help me overcome and succeed”